The Fighting Irish (6-0) head into their prime time ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup hot off a championship in Maui. They beat No. 6 Wichita State 67-66 and immediately became a top five team for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

Thursday marks just the second meeting for the Irish and Spartans since 1979, though their series dates back to 1908. The programs played one another consistently through the mid-70s, but the last time they met was Dec. 3, 2014. The Irish won 79-78 in overtime.

Brey broke down three keys to preparing for the Spartans this week.

“Transition defense, there’s no question,” he said. “They run more on makes than they do on misses. Big guys really sprinting the floor and they’ve got fresh big guys in there all the time. Rebounding the ball, you know, can we keep it to one and done? We were able to do that with some athletic ability against LSU and Wichita State so I’m encouraged, but it’ll be a heckuva challenge with all the size they have.

“And then offensively, we had a hard time figuring out what to do offensively against a great defensive team in Wichita State in the first half. How do we flow offensively because that can certainly help your defense if we’re flowing a little bit better on the offensive end.”

Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey celebrates after defeating the Wichita State Shockers in the championship game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center.(Photo: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

Brey’s team is excited for another road challenge — Notre Dame has played only two home games this year. He compared Michigan State a little to Wichita State, but with one caveat.

“They’re Wichita State on steroids,” Brey said. “They’re barreling downhill on you in their offense and they’re all over the backboard and then they guard the heck out of you in the half court. That is what we faced out there in Maui, but now you’re dealing with a home atmosphere.”

Bonzie Colson leads the Irish with 20.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game with a double-double in four games so far. He’ll be guarded by Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr., who has already taken on Duke’s Marvin Bagley and North Carolina’s Luke Maye this season. The 6-11, 242-pound 18-year-old from Carmel, (he attended La Lumiere) did well with those assignments by holding Bagley to four points and Maye to eight.

Izzo this week called Colson, who was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year, “maybe one of the more complete players we’ll play this year. He can really put the ball on the floor and he’s tough and is a good rebounder. He’s just got a little bit of everything.”

Brey said teams have been more physical with Colson though and “come after him early.” Once they get tired of him defensively, Notre Dame must take advantage. Jackson’s biggest weakness thus far has been staying out of foul trouble. In a 63-45 win over North Carolina on Sunday, he sat out the final 12:34 of the first half after picking up his second foul. Against Stony Brook on Nov. 19, he fouled out in 14 minutes of play.

Notre Dame will also have to account for National Player of the Year candidate Miles Bridges, who leads his team with 15.7 points a night and also averages 6.8 rebounds. Few players received more preseason hype than Colson; Bridges was one of them after he opted to come back for his sophomore year over the NBA.

Brey and Izzo are good friends. They got their first head coaching jobs the same year — Izzo at Michigan State, Brey at Delaware — but it’ll be Brey’s first time coaching at the Breslin Center. He said the last time his team beat the Spartans it gave them credibility, which is what he's looking for again Thursday despite being No. 5 in the country now.

“Bonzie and Matt Farrell were born chip-on-the-shoulder guys,” Brey said. “No question in Thursday’s preparation, Bridges was the player of the year type of guy. He was talked about (nationally) more than Bonzie and (Michigan State) was talked about as a Final Four pick, so we’re back in that mode.